By: Ella Alger
Being in your twenties can be such an overwhelming and stressful time, which means maintaining a steady routine may be the last thing on your mind. Adopting daily habits can be difficult at first, but these simple changes will transform your physical and mental well-being, and set you up for a long, healthy life.
1. Drink water as soon as you wake up
Although it may be hard to resist going straight to the coffee pot upon waking up, one of the most important things you can do for your body when you wake up is to drink water. Your body dehydrates while you sleep, so it is important to rehydrate as soon as possible to help your body and mind function properly and prepare for the day. Also, do not forget to stay hydrated all day long! Drinking water has been proven to help your body get rid of waste, support organ function, improve cognition, and carry nutrients throughout your body.
2. Learn to cook
After a long day of going to classes or work, the first thing I want to do is eat dinner. It can be tempting to throw a frozen pizza into the oven for 12 minutes rather than concoct an elaborate meal, which is why using your weekends to explore healthy meal options is ideal. Preparing food on your own keeps you away from all the harmful excess ingredients in pre-packaged frozen meals and saves you money in the long run. The internet is your friend when it comes to learning how to cook. Research your favorite home-cooked recipes and see how you can modify them to make them healthy and enjoyable for you. If you learn to use natural ingredients correctly, you can create simple, delicious, and healthy meals that can be reheated and consumed all week long.
3. Establish a good sleeping routine
With all the stress of staying on top of your work and balancing a social life in your twenties, you might think good sleep is a thing of the past. But learning how to maintain an effective sleep routine is possible, and it can take your productivity to a whole new level. Professionals recommend that adults (aged 18–64) should be getting 7–9 hours of sleep per night. There are many ways to sustain a good sleep schedule, such as limiting screen time before bed, afternoon caffeine intake, daytime naps, and large meals before bed. One of the ways I maintain a consistent 8 hours of sleep each night is by going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day. Of course, it can’t always be perfect, but trying to set standard times for going to sleep and waking up reinforces your body’s sleep cycle, which will ultimately allow your body to fully rest during those scheduled hours.
4. Incorporate physical activity into your daily life
As a former high school athlete, I never thought exercising would be something difficult to work into my routine, but exercise can slip out of your schedule way easier than you think. For me, it’s easiest for me to get active early in the morning before my day is consumed by homework and studying. Exercising doesn’t have to be something daunting, it should be something you do to wake up your body and take a break from whatever stressor is holding you back that day. Maintaining physical exercise will allow your body to stay strong and flexible well into old age, which will protect your bones and joints from injury, and keep your heart healthy. Exercise can be anything you find enjoyable, even a simple walk around the neighborhood on a nice day is enough to foster productivity and give your mind a break. Finding a small piece of each day to get your body moving will be a game changer.
5. Find a hobby you love
Arguably one of the most important items on this list, finding a hobby you love is the key to enjoyable days. I’m a big advocate of focusing on schoolwork and studying hard to get good grades, but I wouldn’t be able to do those things without my hobbies to foster my productivity. One thing I love to do when taking breaks from studying is reading books (not textbooks), playing piano, or doing any sort of craft (I’m a huge fan of paint-by-numbers). Do something you love every day and your mind will thank you later.
School and work are important, but your well-being is most important. Incorporating these little habits into your daily routine now will keep your mind and body happy and healthy for years to come.
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